Station appliance for telephone toll-lines.



No. 649,077. Patented May 8, I900.

c. E. scmsman. STATION APPLIANCE FOR TELEPHONE TOLL LINES.

(Application filed may 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheats$heet I.

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No. 649,077.' Patented ma a, 1900.

C. E. SCRIBNER. STATION APPLIANCE FOR TELEPHONE TOLL LINES.

(Application filed May Q1, 1398.

I (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

Witnesses: Inventon (aha/dies 5' em/then",

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SCRIBNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE 'WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STATION APPLIANCE FOR TELEPHONE TOLL-LINES.

SPECIFICATION ferming'part of Letters Patent No. 649,077, dated May 8, 1900.

Application filed May 21, 1898. Serial No. 681,283. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: means for short-circuiting the telephone when Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SORIBNER, it is not in use, of a switching appliance capa a citizen of the United States, residing at bio of assumingthree positions,inoneof which Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of it is adapted to sever the telephone-line, clos- 5 5 Illinois, have invented a certain new and useing the line-circuitin one direction through ful Improvement in Station Appliances for the telephone and in the other direction Telephone Toll-Lines,(Case No.4c67,) of which through the bell, in another position of perthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exforming a similar function with reversed act description. connections, and in a third position of com- IO This invention concerns the nature and oppleting the line, connecting the bell with eration of apparatus at stations of telephone the through-circuit, of secondary switch-com toll-lines. tacts for disconnecting the telephone from It consists in a switch and circuit connecthe circuit of the bell when it is in use for tions therewith for severing the through-line conversation, and a telephone-switch and [5 passing a station to permit the use simultamechanism actuated by it to restore the neously of different portions of the line beswitch to its third position, wherein the line tween different stations, with means for ascircuit is complete through the station when certaining when the line is in use and for the telephone is placed on its switch. automatically restoringthe continuity of the The attached drawings are illustrative of 20 line at any station when its use at the same the invention.

station is finished. Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation It has been a common practice in the art of of one form of line-switch such as consti telephony to provide at each station of a tolltutes a feature of my invention, together with line intermediate of the extreme stations a the telephone-switch. Fig. 2 is a plan of the z 5 switch, commonly designated as a secrecy same. Fig. 3 represents in a simplified way switch, for severing the toll-line, closing one the apparatus and the circuits thereof at a portion of the line through a telephone and single intermediate station of a metallic-cirthe other through a bell at the station, and cuit toll-line. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a in some cases means have been provided for different form of switch. Fig. 5 is a plan of 3o automatically restoring the switch to its northis form; and Fig. (i is a central section of mal condition to disconnect the telephone the same, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. and complete the break in the line through The line-switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the agency of suitable mechanism when the comprises four pairs of switch-springs a a, telephone was replaced onits switch after use. a a a a and a a normal resting-anvils 35 Afurther feature allied to the present invena a a ca 00 a, and a a for these retion consisted in a switch at each station for spective springs, and other contact-pieces by bringing the station-telephone into a bridge which the springs a and a a and a a and of the line-circuit, together with a high rea, and a and a become connected together sistance, whereby the condition of the line as when moved to be separated from their rest- 0 4o respects use or disuse might be ascertained ing-anvils. The springs a a and a a have without interfering with conversation. curved extremities presented to each other The present invention consists in an imand lying in proximity to a movable doubleprovement and simplification of the earlier faced wedge or cylinder b, of insulating maappliances and in their application to the terial. This cylinderbis carried on aswitch- 45 so-calledbridging system of toll-lines and lever b, which has a handle 11 projecting station apparatus. through the case of the telephone instrument,

As respects its principal features the inthe lever being pivoted in a suitable frame- Vention comprises the combination, with a work carrying the parts of the switch. A through metallic circuit and a station-bell at movement of the handle b in one direction 50 each station thereof in a bridge of the circuit, thrusts the wedge 1) between springs 00 and ct, of a telephone in circuit with the bell and whereby these switch-springs are raised from their normal restin g-anvils and are thrust on tward against the springs to" and a raising these latter from their anvils (L12 and (4 Similarly a movement of the lever in the op posite direction will bring the wedge 71 between the springs a and a whereby these will be raised from their resting-anvils, will be connected with the springs a and c respectively, and the latter will be raised from their anvils. An extension b of the switchlever is brought into position to register with a catch on the lever c of the telephone-switch. This last-mentioned switch is of usual and well-known construct-ion, consisting of the pivoted lever c, with a hook formed on its free extremity, projectingoutside the case for supporting the receiving-telephone, an impelling-spring c therefor tending to raise the lever, with a switch-spring which becomes crossed with the lever when the latter is permitted to rise.

In associating the line-switch with this telephone-switch two hook-shaped projections (Z and d are fixed to the lever c, with a small space between their presented extremities. The extension of the switch-lever Z) is wedge-shaped and enters the space between these projecting parts (Z and (Z'. The space between these points is of suliicient width to permit the lever b to be thrust to either side when the telephone-switch c is in its upper position. The adjustment is such, however, that when the switch is moved from that position to its lower position the projection d or (1 will be forced against the corresponding inclined surface of the extension Zr and will move the switch-lever b to its normal position intermediate of the switch springs. \Vhile the leverof the t-elephoneswitch is in its lowest position, the lever I) cannot be moved in either direction. Obviously the springs a a and a a should be so adjusted with relation to the wedge b that the latter may be retained between the extremities of either pair of springs between which it has been thrust. This is an adjustment usual in switches well known in the art.

The line-switch shown in Figs. at, 5, and 6 is similar in function to that just described, but is different in operation in that thelever of the line-switch is held in either of its extreme positions, in which it may be placed by a catch controlled by the telephone-switch, being released when the telephone is replaced on the hook. In this form of switch the lever Z) carries a Hat spring 6 from which a stud 1) projects atits upper extremity. The lever c of the telephone-switch carries two catches c c in position to engage this stud L The switch-sprin gs of the lineswitch are in this instance so adjusted that they tend to return the switch Z) to its normal position between the springs. Nhen the lever Z1 is moved in either direction to change the connections of the line-circuit, the stud b rides over the catch 0 or c and engages it, where by the switch is held in position to maintain the changed line-circuits until the telephone is replaced on the telephone-switch. Then the catch or c is carried below the line of pressure of the stud b and passes out of en gagoxnent with it, and the line-switch is permitted to return to its normal condition.

In Fig. 3 the apparatus above described is shown associated with a metallic-circuit tollline 1 2 3 -l-, whose extremities are supposed to extend to other toll-stations. The line conductor 1 from one direction is connected with spring a of the line-switch, while the normal continuation 2 of the same conductor is connected with spring a. Similarly one per-- tion of line conductor 3, forming the other side of the circuit, is connected with spring a and the other portion with. spring a. The contact-anvil a is united by a wire 4; with the anvil a and the anvil a" by wire 5 with the anvil a". The spring (1. is connected to wire t by a conductor rs, which includes the polarized call-bell (Z. The normal resting-anvil a of spring a is united by wire 7 with the spring a, whose resting-eon tact a is connected through wire 8 with anvil a. The spring a bearing on the latter, is connected through wire 9 with anvil a 'fland the spring a, bearing on the latter, forms one terminal of the substalion-telephones c 2, whose other terminals are led by wire 11 to the wire 5. The switch-lever and its contact-spri ng c control the continuity of a short circuit 12 about the telephones. The switch-spring 0 constitutes the closing-switch for the usual local circuit of the transmitting-telephone (2'. A generatorf is connected in a normally-open bridge 13 of the line-circuit with a circuitcloserf, which is actuated in the operation of the generator. The conductors of the linecircuit are normally continuous through the line-switch at its intermediate station, the

circuit being by way of line-wire 1, conduetor -l-, line-wire 2,and from line-wire 3 through wire 5 to line-wire 4-. Across this circuit a bridge exists, including the call-bell d, which starts from the wire it, includes the wires 6 7 R 9 1O 12 11, and finally reaches the wire 5. Thetelephone 0 may be said to be included in this circuit; but it is normally shunt-ed by the conductor 12, closed at the switch-contacts of the telephone-switch c.

W' hen a user of the telephone at the station here represented takes the telephone c from its switch, the shunt 12 about the telephone is broken; but the bell (Z, of high impedance and resistance, remains in circuit in the bridge with the telephone. Hence if the line be in use for telephonic communication no perceptible interference with the telephonic currents will be produced by closing the circuit through the telephone such as would disturb conversation. Sn fllcicnt current will be shunted through the receiving-telephone, however, to enable the user of telephone (2 to determine whether the line is already occupied. If the line be free, a call-signal is sent in the usual way by means of the caltgener- IIO atorf. Then the user of the telephone throws the handle 11 of the line-switch into one or the other of its extreme positions, according to the station with which he wishes to communicate, the action of the switch being to sever the through-line and connect the por tion from one direction with the telephone and from the other direction with the bell, leaving the latter portion free for use between other stations. Thus if the lever of the line-switch be moved to bring the wedge Z) between the springs to and a the line conductors 1 and 3 from one direction will become connected together through wires 10, 11, and 5, which are brought into electrical connection through the agency of springs a and d and spring a and contacta, respectively. The telephone 6 is thus found in the circuit of line-wires 1 and 3, and since the short circuit 12 about this instrument is broken the telephone may be used for conversation. The connection of the telephone with the conductors, including the call-bell (Z, is broken, being interrupted at the now open contact-anvils (Wand a, from which the springs a and a are raised. The bell is brought into circuit between line-wires 2 4 by way of conductors 2, 4, and 6, these conductors being united at the contacts co c and a a. Thus the user of the telephone at the toll-station may converse with a person at any station connected with the portion 1 3 of the toll-line, and simultaneously conversation may be carried .on between any two stations located on the portion 2 4 of the line. A callsignal sent from any station on the latter portion of the line will ring the belld, so that access may be had to the station where the telephone is in use.

'In using the telephone in connection with the portion 2 4 of the line the lever is moved to thrust the wedge Z) between the springs a (F. The circuit will then be complete from conductor 2 by way of springs a a wire 9, contacts (L12 d wires 10, 11, and 5, and contacts a" a to the line-wire 4. A circuit will be formed through the bell from line-conductor 1 through contacts a a wires 4 and 6, contacts a a, wire 7, and contacts a a to the line-wire The lever of the line-switch will remain in either position in which it may be placed while the telephone is in use. When the telephone is replaced on its switch, the lever will be returned to its normal position, in which the wedge lies intermediate of the switch-springs, whereby the line-circuit will be restored to its normal condition, complete through the station, the bell and telephone being in a bridge of the circuit.

The invention is defined in the following claims:

1. The combination with line conductors of a multiple-station line, a bridge of the line, a telephone and a call-bell included serially in the bridge, and a line-switch and circuit .2. The combination with a line conductor of a multiple -station telephone -line, of a bridge of the line-circuit, a telephone and a call-bell included serially in the bridge, and a line-switch, adapted to sever the line conductor and to break the connection between the telephone and the bell and connect the telephone with one of said severed portions of the line conductor and the bell with the other portion, as described.

3. The combination with the line conductors of a multiple-station telephone-line, of a telephone and a bell, one terminal of the telephone being connected with one of the line conductors, and one terminal of the bell being connected with the other line conductor, a line-switch normally connecting the remaining terminal of the telephone with the remaining terminal of the bell, switch-c011- taets of the said switch adapted to sever the line conductor, and alternate contacts of the switoh-lever adapted to connect the terminal of the telephone with one extremity of the line conductor and the terminal of the bell with the other extremity thereof, when the said terminals of the telephone and bell are disconnected from each other, as described.

4. The combination with the line conductors of a multiple-station telephone-line, of the switch-springs a and of, with their resting anvils and the conductor 4, normally maintaining the continuity of one line conductor, the switch-springs a and aiwith their resting-anvils and the wire 5 normally maintaining the continuity of the other line conductor, the normal bridge conductor between the wires 4 and 5, and the call-bell and telephone included therein, the contact-spring a forming a terminal of the telephone, the contact-spring a forming a terminal of the bell, means for operating the springs a a and the springs a a respectively, and means actuated in the use of the key for severing the connection between the telephone and the bell, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the line conductors of a multiple-station telephone-line, of the switch-springs a and oiwith their restinganvils and the conductor 4, normally maintaining the continuity of one line conductor, the switch-springs a and a with their resting-anvils and the wire 5 normally maintaining the continuityof the otherline conductor, the normal bridge conductor between the wires 4 and 5, and the call-bell and telephone included therein, the contact-spring a forming a terminal of the telephone, the contactspring ct forminga terminal of the bell, means for operating the springs a a and the springs a a respectively, and means actuated in the use of the key for severing the connection between the telephone and the bell, a telephone-switch, and a short circuit of the telephone normally closed thereby, as described.

6. The combination with the line conductors of a multiple-station telephone-line, a normal bridge of the line, a call-bell, and a telephone, of a line-switch comprising two groups of switch-springs and an operatinglevcr for actuating either group of switchsprings, having a position intermediate of the switch-springs, said switch being adapted to sever the conductors of the line and connect the telephone with the severed terminals of one portion of the line and the bell with the severed terminals of the other portion, means for retaining the switch-lever in position to actuate either pair of springs, a telephoneswitch, and a device controlled thereby for rendering said means inoperative; whereby the switch may be placed in position to connect the telephone with one portion of the line and the bell with the other portion,while the telephone is in use, but said switch is returned to its normal position when the telephone is replaced on its switch, as described.

7. The combination with the line conductors 1, 2, and 3, 4, of the switch-springs a an, a and a, respectively, forming the terminals thereof, the resting-anvils of the springs and the wires 4: and 5 uniting the anvils in pairs,the normal resting-anvils for the switch-springs a and a and a (t the normal bridge between wires 4t and 5, the call-bell and the telephone included serially therein, the circuit between the telephone and the bell being closed through the switch-sprin gs a a a and a with their anvils serially, and means for actuating either pair of switch-springs a a or (t a", substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 2d day of April, A. D. 1898.

CHARLES E. SORIIENER.

\V i tnesses:

ELLA EnLnn, MYR'LA F. GREEN. 

